Similar Triangles: Introduction

The Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid was constructed over a 20 year period, concluding in about the year 2560 BC.  At that time, the actual height of the pyramid was not known.  A Greek Mathematician was the first to measure the height.  He used the shadow of the pyramid and the shadow of a staff and with the geometry of similar triangles was able to calculate the height of the pyramid.  By the time you are done with this lesson, you too could calculate the height of the pyramid with this method.  Today this simple geometric method is used in surveying and construction.